Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Organic matter transformation in soils

IV. Aromatic compounds in fulvic acid of soil incubated with C14-Tagged oat roots under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Results of organic matter fractionation and qualitative analysis of organic substances amended with C14-tagged oat roots and incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions suggest that fulvic acids and low molecular weight organic compounds are formed and accumulate to a greater extent under submerged soil conditions. The results suggest that plant and microbial polyphenols and lignin decomposition products condense with amino acids during the formation of humic substances. It is proposed that complete breakdown of lignins and tannin-like substances is not an essential prerequisite for the formation of humus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Basaraba, J. and Starkey, R. L., Effect of plant tannins on decomposition of organic substances. Soil. Sci.101, 17–23 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Davies, R. I., Coulson, C. B. and Lewis, D. A., Polyphenols in plant, humus and soil. III. J. Soil Sci.15, 299–309 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Flaig, W., Maataloustieteellinen Aikauskirja — Landw. Ges. in Finland33, 1 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Flaig, W., Chemistry of humic substances. The use of isotopes in soil organic matter studies. Spec. Suppl. J. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. Pergamon Press (1966).

  5. Forsyth, W., Studies on the more soluble complexes of soil organic matter. I. A method of fractionation. Biochem. J.41, 176 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fuhr, F. and Sauerbeck, D., Decomposition of wheat straw in the field as influenced by cropping and rotation. Isotopes and Radiation in soil organic matter studies. IAEA, Vienna (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Haider, K., Soun-UK Lim and Flaig, W., Landw. Forschung15, 196 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Haider, K., Frederick, L. R and Flaig, W., Reactions between amino acid compounds and phenols during oxidation. Plant and soil22, 49–64 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Haider, K. and Martin, J. P., Isotopes and radiations in soil organic matter studies. IAEA, Vienna (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Henderson, M. E. K., Metabolism of methoxylated aromatic compounds by soil fungi. J. Gen. Microbiol.16, 686–695 (1957).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Henderson, M. E. K., Studies on the physiology of lignin decomposition by soil fungi. The Ecology of Soil Fungi, Liverpool University Press (1960).

  12. Jansson, S. L. and Persson, J., Co-ordination of humus chemistry and soil organic-matter biology by isotopic techniques. Isotopes and radiation in soil organicmatter studies. IAEA, Vienna (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jenkinson, D. S., Studies on the decomposition of plant material in soil III. J. Soil Sci.19, 25–39 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kononova, M. M., Soil Organic Matter. Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. (1963).

  15. Ladd, J. N. and Butler, J. H. A., Comparison of properties of synthetic and natural humic acids. Spec. Suppl. J. Applied Radiat. and Isotopes, 143–151 (1966).

  16. Manskaya, S. M. and Kodina, V. I., The role of lignin and lignin deriatives in humus formation. Pochvovedenie No.8, 79–85 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Persson, J., Biological testing of chemical humus analysis. Ann. Agr. Coll. Sweden34, 81–217 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rex, R. W., Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of stable free radicals in lignins and humic acids. Nature (London)188, 1185–1186 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sauerbeck, D. and Fuhr, F., Alkali extraction and fraction of labelled plant material before and after decomposition — a contribution to the technical problems in humification studies. Isotopes and Radiation in soil organic matter studies. IAEA, Vienna (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Simonart, P. and Mayaudon, J., Etude des Transformations de la matiere organique du sol au moyen du carbone-14. Spl. suppl. J. appl. radiat. and isotopes, Pergamon Press. (1966).

  21. Sinha, M. K., Ph. D. Dissert. Timiryazev Acad. Agr. Sci. Moscow (1969).

  22. Sowden, F. J., Nature of the amino acid compounds of soil: II. J. Soil Sci.102, 164–271 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Steelink, C. and Tollin, G., Stable free radicals in soil humic acid. Biochem. Biophys. Acta59, 25–34 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Stein, H. N. and Tendeloo, H. J. C., The oxidation of pholoroglucinol as a model for humification processes. Plant and Soil11: 131–138 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Tollin, G., Reid, I. and Steelink, G., Structure of humic acid. IV.Electron paramagnetic resonance studies. Biochim. Biophys. Acta66, 444–447 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. K. Sinha

    Present address: Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Timiryazev Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Moscow

    M. K. Sinha

Authors
  1. M. K. Sinha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sinha, M.K. Organic matter transformation in soils. Plant Soil 37, 273–281 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139971

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139971

Keywords

Search

Navigation